Morning, Tuesday, 17th March 2026
Online
This conference will consider next steps for the UK’s international research partnerships, including priorities for policy, institutional capabilities, funding and talent mobility, as well as approaches for navigating geopolitical contexts shaping collaboration.
Sustaining research networks, Horizon & Framework Programme 10
It will bring stakeholders and policymakers together to assess how the UK can sustain and expand its global research networks, taking into account changing international dynamics alongside domestic policy developments, such as support for R&D investment in the 2025 Spending Review and the Industrial Strategy targeting AI, life sciences and clean energy as key growth sectors.
Delegates will discuss implications of the UK’s reassociation with Horizon Europe and what more is needed to consolidate and expand its role in European and global research frameworks, addressing practical barriers to collaboration, key issues for institutional planning and implications for FP10 - the successor programme to Horizon Europe. Priorities for developing even engagement across collaborative streams and fostering confidence across EU consortia will be assessed.
Talent mobility & international attractiveness
There will also be a focus on visa reform outlined in the Immigration White Paper and its potential impact on international attractiveness and researcher mobility, with concerns from some that high costs and the complexity of the immigration system remains a barrier for international researcher recruitment and mobility. Delegates will also consider how upfront visa and settlement costs - alongside salary thresholds - impact early‑career researchers and specialist technical roles, drawing on strategies for enhancing UK competitiveness relative to EU and US destinations.
Areas for discussion include next steps for developing industry-aligned programmes of study and clear progression pathways to retain talent within the UK research workforce.
Equitable partnerships & global engagement
Delegates will also examine strategies for fostering equitable research partnerships with lower and middle-income countries, considering implications of a gradual move away from transactional models of project delivery. We expect a focus on frameworks for collaboration that support training, capacity-building, and shared ownership of outcomes, as well as priorities for developing data sharing and research infrastructure interoperability to better support diplomacy and enhance research partnerships.
Mitigating risk & optimising benefits
Latest thinking on balancing open collaboration with security and compliance considerations will be discussed, including implications of strengthened due diligence protocols for partnerships with key research powers. It will be an opportunity to consider next steps for proportionate, risk‑based approaches that protect IP and reputational integrity, without unduly constraining international collaboration. Further discussion will assess the future for interdisciplinary and high-risk, long-term international collaborations, and approaches to ensure benefits to both scientific progress and wider societal outcomes without constraining international engagement.
Governance & funding
Further sessions explore options for policy frameworks and funding mechanisms that can effectively support agile and resilient partnerships in ways that contribute to UK science excellence, alongside innovation priorities in the Industrial Strategy. Discussion will also reflect questions around the growing role of the International Science Partnerships Fund as a strategic mechanism for global collaboration, and expectations for clear criteria and long‑term funding signals.
The increasing focus on research specialisation and its potential implications for funding allocations in the recent Post-16 Education and Skills White Paper will also be discussed, as well as how inflation-adjusted tuition fees and maintenance loans may impact university financial planning and international research strategies.
Discussion will look at how universities, regional research institutions and delivery partners are responding to expectations around programme delivery, simplification reforms and long-term capability, including approaches to technology translation and commercialisation. The evolving use of lead agency and co-funding models will be explored, considering issues around institutional responsibilities, research governance and opportunities aligned with national policy priorities.
All delegates will be able to contribute to the output of the conference, which will be shared with parliamentary, ministerial, departmental and regulatory offices, and more widely. This includes the full proceedings and additional articles submitted by delegates.
